The Rising Stars – 2025
- About the competition
- News
- Concerts
- The Rules of participation
- The Jury
- Registration
- Schedule
- Winners
- Awards
- Contacts
- Photo and Video
- Master classes
COMPETITION OF INSTRUMENTALISTS AND VOCALISTS "RISING STARS - 2025"
"Days of Kazinik"
February 26 - March 2, 2025.
Children and youth, soloists and groups are invited to participate in the nominations - classical music and academic vocals. This year it is permissible to present your talent to participants in the 30+ group
Competition goals
Identification and support of bright, gifted performers involved in the classical directions of vocal and instrumental performance. Introducing musicians and the public to the best examples of world and domestic musical culture. To give an opportunity to a wide range of musically gifted children and youth to demonstrate their creative abilities to honored professionals of vocal and instrumental classics, to show their talent to the audience of important events in the musical life of the country and the world. To help performers in the 30+ age category find their own way in art.
During the competition, selection for participation in the following events takes place:
- Hollywood World Performing Arts Championship (Worldstars Olympiad www.wcopa.com)
- Nelli Shkolnikova Academy
- Gala concert of the winners on March 2 in the Small Guild with members of the jury.
- In the events of the International Talent Center
Competition address:
(subject to change or clarification)
Kazinik Days 2025
Hotel: in Riga at a special price (reservation upon application to the organizing committee)
Reformed Church, Marstalu 10
Small Guild, Amatu, 5.
Art Amber, Alksnaja 7
The Rules of participation
This year the competition is held in two stages.
1. The first stage is online. www.ict-stars.eu in the "Competitions" section.
Participants fill out a questionnaire, pay for participation, send their performances filmed in a horizontal location of the phone, or studio recordings.
Videos must be signed: Name, Surname (as in passport), age on February 27, 2025, title of the work, composer, duration of the performance
Compulsory performance of two pieces of the contestant's choice.
We give the participants the opportunity to make their own choice in order to show themselves in the best way. Duration - up to 10 minutes, two pieces. Senior age categories - up to 15 minutes.
Age categories:
Juniors: 5-7, 8-10, 11-12, 13-15, Seniors: 16-17, 18-24, 25-30, 30+
3. The second stage is held offline, in the Reformed Church. The list of participants will be published on February 25. Out-of-town participants will be informed in advance of the need to personally attend the 2nd round of the competition as they submit their videos. In the event of passing to the second round and being unable to attend in person for reasons beyond the contestant's control, the contestant continues to compete for awards online.
The performance of the participant takes place to the accompaniment of the instrument. A participant who has passed to the second round performs at the competition with his own accompanist, or must declare in advance that it is necessary, and, if possible, the organizing committee will provide an accompanist. All expenses for the participation of an accompanist are at the expense of the participant.
4. The application (questionnaire) of the participant is submitted to the organizing committee. (in the "Registration" section)
A copy of the payment order for the transfer of the registration fee is attached to the application.
Registration fee in the amount of:
- 40 euros for soloists,
- 60 euros for duets,
- 25 euros for a team member: trios and more.
Participants, who passed inabout the second round, additionally pay the organising fee - 20 euros. In case the applicant does not pass to the 2nd round of performances, refuses to participate in the competition, does not send the video in time, as well as in case of non-appearance at the registration, the fee will not be refunded.
Expensess for visas, travel and accommodation are at the expense of the participants.
If visas are required, the participant or the accompanying person will pay for the invitation fee of 20,- euros. For the invitation the following data should be provided: Name, surname as in the passport, date and place of birth, citizenship, address, as well as the city where the visa application will take place. Please take into account the visa application deadline well in advance
To inform about the necessity of invitation and for this purpose to provide all data about the contestant and the accompanying person.
Applications are accepted until February 15.
After February 15, the price of each position increases by 10 euros; the decision on accepting an application is made by the organizing committee, taking into account the number of applications already accepted.
THE JURY OF THE “RISING STARS 2024” COMPETITION
The jury of the competition contains famous musicians, performers and organizers from the classical music industry.
An honorable chairman of the jury is Michael Kazinik.
1. Mikhail Kazinik (Sweden)
The full time chairman of the jury of the competition, the violinist and the pianist, the outstanding public figure, the educator, the art critic, professor of Drama institute of Stockholm and the Higher school of business of Scandinavia, honorary professor of RISEBA, the researcher in the field of music therapy, the director and the actor of the Stockholm theater Teatrstudio Lederman, the author of articles and studies on musical perception issues. Member of International association of writers and publicists, expert of the Nobel concert. He is among hundred persons who, in the context of 30th parallel project, make the greatest contribution to creation or description of the universe, concern of peace and life as such, and mankind in general by their daily activities.
Info: www.kazinik.ru
2. Mikhail Svetlov, bass, USA
MIKHAIL SVETLOV is one of the brightest representatives of the bass vocal tradition. He having a great command of vocal technique, as an amazing actor he was subject to both comedy and drama, and tragic image and buffoonery, as well as pop. Mr. Svetlov nominated for a Grammy Award, was also honored with two Telerama Awards in France and he is a winner of Viotti International Competition in Italy.
A principal soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow and Metropolitan Opera of New York he gave an absolutely magnificent opera performances in many of the most prestigious venues like Covent Garden in London, Carnegie Hall, Arena di Verona, Houston Grand and Florida Grand operas, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Colon and many others. His recent works are associated with productions at the MET “Meistersingers” and “Ariadne on Naxos’’, Zaccaria “Nabucco” Verdi in Erfurt, Germany, Rachmaninoff's “Miserly Knight” in Boston and Rossini's “Mass" in Washington.
Press about Mihail Svetlov
“Mikhail Svetlov, was an astonishing performer”. Opera news
…The show was stolen by bass Mikhail Svetlov!
“Mikhail Svetlov fills the auditorium with his booming Italianate bass…”
Express, Classical reviews, London
“Mikhail Svetlov was a sensation!” La Presse (Montreal)
3. Julija Vasiljeva
Soprano JULIJA VASILJEVA, Рrima of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet Theater, graduated from Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music with a Bachelor's degree under the direction of Professor Anita Garanča and a Master's degree under Professor Lilija Greidāne. She has participated in the JVLMA Opera Studio Figaro productions and has honed her vocal skills with teachers Edda Moser, Renato Bruson, Inga Kalna, Axel Everaert, Margarita Gruzdeva and Māris Skuja.
Vasiljeva has been a soloist at the Latvian National Opera since 2013. Among the roles she has interpreted are Elisabetta in Verdi’s Don Carlo, title role in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur, Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Hanna Glavari ir Lehar’s Die Lustige Witwe, Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, Clorinda in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Lelde in Imants Kalniņš’s Spēlēju, dancoju, Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto, Susanna in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Liu in Turandot, Maija in Zigmārs Liepiņš’s Turaidas Roze, Margaret in Gounod’s Faust, etc.
The artist has been nominated for the Grand Music Award 2022 in the category For outstanding performance throughout the year. Julija Vasiljeva has won the third prize at the XVI International Competition Cappuccilli-Patané-Respighi in Italy. In October 2024, she interpreted the title role of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot in Teatro Zandonai in Italy. A regular member of the contest jury.
4. Boris Avramets (Latvia)
Boris Avramets (Latvia) – ethnomusicologist and music historian, professor of the Riga Highest academy of pedagogics and education management; main directions of research and teaching activity: European ancient music; modern music; musical traditions of the people of Asia and Africa.
Info: http://www.music.lv/Muzikologi/Boriss_Avramecs/default.htm
5. Viacheslav Zubkov
(born 03.10.1976 in Kiev) received his musical education at N.V.Lysenko KSSMSH and Kiev Conservatory named after P.I.Tchaikovsky in the class of Associate Professor B.A.Archimovich. Tchaikovsky Conservatory in the class of Associate Professor B.A.Archimovich.
Vyacheslav has won various prizes at international competitions, including: - Winner of the International Horowitz Competition in Kiev (Ukraine) and the International Competition in Marsala (Italy) and etc
The geography of the pianist's performances covers many countries of the world. Among them are concerts on the stage of "Concertgebouw" in Amsterdam with the "Kiev Youth Orchestra" (as part of a tour of Holland in 1994-95, where a CD recording of Nino Rota's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra was made); performances in Gdańsk (Poland, "Gdańska Jesień Pianistyczna", 2009), etc.
In 2017. Vyacheslav Zubkov performed on the stage of the Warmińsko-Mazurska Philharmonic (Olsztyn, Poland) with a program of piano transcriptions "From Baroque to Jazz"; in 2018, with the orchestra of the Olsztyn Philharmonic, the pianist performed Gershwin's "Rhapsody in the Blues" (in his own version of solo episodes); also, in 2019, he played "Rhapsody" with the orchestra of the Pavel Slobodkin Center; in 2021, the pianist presented a program of Russian music in the cycle "Mistrzowskie recitale fortepianowe" in the Olsztyn Philharmonic; in 2022, he performed in the halls of the Bydgoszcz Philharmonic and the Academy of Music in Gdansk.
In 2018, in Krakow, the musician recorded the CD "Transcriptions and Improvisations", which also includes the pianist's own arrangements and jazz fantasies.
In different years, the musician, in collaboration with cultural critic Mikhail Kazinik, has performed in his projects in Israel, the USA, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia.
6. Alexei Moshkov
Violin Alexei Moshkov studied at the prestigious Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in the class of Professor Igor Bezrodny, where he received the diplomas of soloist and chamber music. He is a laureate of the USSR National Competition, and a laureate of the Shostakovich International Chamber Music Competition.
In 1992, Alexei began working as a concertmaster in the ensemble "Moscow Soloists" under the direction of Yuri Bashmet, and has toured with this ensemble throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Central Asia, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, etc.
As a chamber musician, Alexei Moshkov has distinguished himself in concert with the best performers, such as S. Richter, Y. Bashmet, N. Gutman, V. Tretyakov, B. Berezovsky, M . Portal, A. Dumay, G. Danguin, M. J. Jude, V. Repin and many others.
Since 1993, Alexei Moshkov has participated in many festivals in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Great Britain.
Since 1995, Alexei Moshkov has been part of numerous chamber music ensembles in Belgium and France. He is regularly invited to festivals in Belgium: Beloeil Festival, Wallonia Festival, Flanders Festival, Ostbelgienfestival etc.
He is also invited as a soloist by many orchestras with which he performs concertos by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Prokofiev, Shostakovich etc.
Passionate about pedagogy, he has given master classes in Belgium, France and Japan (Musa Shino and Ondai Conservatories in Tokyo).
From 2012 to 2018 Alexei Moshkov was a violin professor at the Cambrai Conservatory (France).
Since September 2021 he has been invited as a violin professor at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp.
Alexei is often invited as a jury member at the Ysaye International Music Competition (Liège, Belgium).
Konzertmeister (solo violin) of the National Orchestra of Belgium since 1998, Alexei Moshkov regularly performs as a soloist with this orchestra.
7. Nazar Kozhukhar (b 1969)
violinist, violist, conductor, creator and director of the soloists ensemble The Pocket Symphony, creative initiator and performer of a great number of projects in the field of ancient and modern music (from renaissaince and early baroque up to post avant-garde).
Nazar Kozhukhar is a student of outstanding musician - Oleg Kagan , prize winner of international competitions (National competition of violinists named after D. Oistrakh (Odessa, 1988); International LOCATELLI competition of baroque and modern violinists (Amsterdam, 1995).
Musical education he received in the Central Musical School (professors Z.Gillels, E.Chugaeva) and finally in the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire (1987-1992, post grad 1992-94, where he was an assistant professor in the classes of O. Kagan, S.Kravchenko).
He received Artist Diploma in Boston University in 1993 (professor I.Mazurkevich). Also like a symphonic conductor in the class of G.Rozhdestvensky (Moscow Conservatoire, 1998) Took classes from Maria Leonhardt, Christopher Hoogwood, Trevor Pinnock, Anton Steck, Anner Bylsma..
1996- 2002 professor modern/baroque violin & chamber music at the Moscow State Conservatoire, where on his own initiative was founded the faculty of Historical and Modern Performance of Art.
Since 1996 soloist of the Moscow state Philharmony (managment). Organizer and participant of many international festivals, a frequent jury member of Russian competition of young composers (with chairman Edison Denisov, Moscow, 1994) ,organizer of the festival of contemporary music named after E.Denisov (Tomsk 2002/03). During his artistic life his partners were such prominent musicians as Peter Schraier, Svyatoslav Riсhter, Alexander Rudin, Natalia Gutman, Tatyana Grindenko, Eliso Virsaladze, Alexey Lubimov, Dang Thay Shon, KlausMertens, Martin Hazelboeck, Max van Egmont, Michael Chance, Jurgen Kussmaul, Emma Kirkby, Debora Yorke and the others. He has records on TV, radio, CDs.
He used instruments from the State Collection (since 1994 play on violin by A.Stradivarius “YUSUPOV”, 1736)
Last years N.Kozhukhar also performed on viola, viola d’amore and viola da gamba.
Gives violin/viola chamber music master-classes (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, EU, Chine include Shanhai & Peking conservatoires)
In 1995 Nazar Kozhukhar formed the Ensemble of the soloists The Pocket Symphony, which acquired the reputation of the most refined and elite. The Pocket Symphony is the prizewinner of the 9th International Van Wassenaer early music ensembles competition (Haag, 1996)
Every concert-unique and one of a kind- arouses an unchanging interest of critisists and music-lovers by unexpected interpretations and virtuoso performances. The Ensemble is known for the unique atmosphere, that it creates on the stage.
During the last years Nazar Kozhukhar has concert activities (both as soloist player & conductor) all over the country, realized a great number of significant projects at the best russian scenes, among which are “All Instrumental Compositions of Bach” ; jointly with Peter Schreier he directed in performing Johannes Passion by Bach (Grand Hall of Mosc. Conservatoire), conducted the russian premiere of the new D.Druce edition of Mozart‘s Requiem (St. Pbg Grand Philharmonic Hall).
Numbers of russian 1st performance like Oratorio MEMBRA JESU NOSTRI by D.Buxtehude.
Conduct of premiere opera production Gluck/Berlioz “Orfeo” in St.Peterburg State Conservatoire
The Pocket Symphony made a few russian HIP premier in Moscow and Saint-Peterburg Philharmony such as Te Deum & Jubilate and DIDO & AENEAS by Henry Purcell (350 years of birth, 2009), Mass h-moll by J.S.Bach (2012), with leading Europe soloists as Mechtild BACH (soprano) Jacob Huupmann (countertenor) Mark Bennet (natural trumpet) Susanne Regel (bar.ob.)
New music takes special place in the work of Nazar Kozhukhar and his Ensemble The Pocket Symphony; they performed Russian premiers of works by G.Kancheli , A.Part , D.Yanov-Yanovsky, A.Schnittke , K.Schtokhausen , G.Pelecis, M.Nyman , Ph.Glass , P.Karmanov, A.Aigui, J. Cage.
Nazar Kozhukhar's projects were often provided with sponsorship and organizational support by the Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation), the British Council, SKANSKA, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Troika-Dialogue, The European Business Club, GOETHE German Cultural Center, Davidoff, French Institute of Culture.
Since 2022 lives in Kazakhstan
8. Dainis Medyanik
Dainis Medjaniks was born in Latvia. He received his first violin lessons at the age of 7 from his parents and at the music school in Jurmala.
He studied with Prof. Krzysztof Wegrzyn in Hanover and with Silvia Marcovici in Graz.
He received further musical impulses from Pierre Amoyal, Felix Andrievsky, Mauricio Fuchs, Marina Kesselman, Vladimir Klochko, Eberhardt Feltz, Petru Munteanu and Vivien Weilerstein, among others.
Dainis is a prizewinner of the 54th International Violin Competition "Premio Paganini" in Genoa, he won a 2nd prize at the 6th International August Dombrovski Competition and a 3rd prize at the Latvian State Competition of Music Schools in Riga in 2008.
As a soloist he has already performed with orchestras such as the Orchestra della Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, the Chamber Orchestra of the Lower Saxony State Orchestra Hanover, the West Palatinate Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonic Film Orchestra Berlin.
As a member of the Soleri Trio, Dainis is currently enrolled in chamber music in the class of Dirk Mommertz and Priya Mitchell at HMT Munich, previously studying with Oliver Wille and Markus Becker in Hanover.
The trio has already achieved its first successes: 2nd prize at the international chamber music competition "Societa Ummanitaria di Milano" 2021 was followed by the award 'Highly Commended' at the Parkhouse Award in the Wigmore Hall in London and last year the trio won 3rd prize at “Franz Schubert and Modern Music” chamber music competition in Graz, Austria.
Dainis has received scholarships from "Live Music Now Yehudi Menuhin Hannover", the Lions Club and through the "Gundlach Music Prize", among others.
In 2017, he was invited to perform and teach at the Anchorage Chamber Music Festival, where he performed numerous concerts throughout Alaska.
Since October 2023 Dainis is engaged as concertmaster at Osnabrücker Sinfonieorchester.
He plays a violin from Vlado Tilev made on 2022 in Bulgaria, who has been very successful since few last years.
Register on the website www.ict-stars.eu or through e-mail: talantu.centrs@gmail.com
Contestants have to:
1. Fill the application form
2. Provide a copy of the payment receipt (payment order with a bank note) of the transfer of the registration fee (40 Eur for soloists, 60 Eur for duets, 25 Eur per person in a group). All costs connected with participation are provided by the directing party or the contestants themselves
3. 2 photos in electronic form on e-mail talantu.centrs@gmail.com,(at least 300 kb)
4. Inform about the need to stay at a hotel and desired conditions in free form. Report if transfer is needed. About the necessity of invitation to Latvia
Bank details:
INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF TALENTS
Reg.#40008073996
Address: Dzirciema 1-23, LV1083, Riga, Latvia
Account LV 35 MULT 1010153950010
AS Industra Bank
Reģ. Nr. 40003194988
Elizabetes iela 57, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvija
SWIFT: MULTLV2X
Specify the surname of the contestant and name of the competition "Rising Stars 24" in the payment order.
APPLICATION FORM OF A CONTESTANT
SHEDULE
Kazinik's Days
15th Anniversary
COMPETITION OF INSTRUMENTALISTS AND VOCALISTS “RISING STARS - 2025 " 26.02- 2.03
28/02-01/03 competition days
Reformed Church, Marstau,10
25/02 press conference at 14.00
Art Barn, Alksnaja 7
26/02 at 19.00
Art Barn, Alksnaja 7
Meeting with Mikhail Kazinik (in Russian)
“About Mikhail Kazinik's new book and Pushkin's main secret”
27/02 at 19.00
Small Guild, Amatu 5
“Serenades of Love”
Sensational Grammy nominee, bass, USA Mikhail Svetlov
The leading soloist of the LNOiB, soprano, Julia Vasilyeva
Vyacheslav Zubkov, Professor, Israel
On 28.02 at 19.00
Reformed Church, Marstau, 10.
Flame
Dainis Medjanik (violin, Germany) and Maria Virki (piano, Latvia)
Sarasate, Bach, Ravel, Brahms, Izai, Chopin, Tchaikovsky
25/02 - 02/03 master classes (on request)
Kozhukhar and Moshkov - record by phone +371 28 103 819
02/03 Small Guild, Amatu,5
Gala concert of the Rising Stars contest
1 part – WINNERS OF THE CONTEST
2 part – performances by the jury members:
Mikhail Svetlov, Yulia Vasilyeva, Dainis Medyanik, Vyacheslav Zubkov.
V.A. Mozart: Concert Symphony for Violin, Viola and Chamber Orchestra,
soloists
Nazar Kozhukhar (viola, Kazakhstan) and Alexey Moshkov (violin, Belgium)
The concerts are hosted by Mikhail Kazinik (Sweden)
Information about the Kazinik days and the contest is available on the website: www.ict-stars.eu info +371 28 491 488
Tickets in the system www.bilesuserviss.lv
Places and prizes of the "Rising Stars 2025" competition
Instrumentalists
Juniors
5-7 years
1. Arons Georgs Antonins Valersteins, violin.
2. place.
2. Sofija Jefimova, piano.
Special Award "For Original Composition"
8-10 years
3. Jeļena Djeri, piano.
3. place.
4. Sofija Poliščuka, violin.
1.place.
11-12 years
5. Jelisejs Baškirovs, piano.
3. place.
6. Sofija Ritova, violin.
2. place.
7. Mila Golubeva, piano.
1.place.
8. Ksenija Rudj, violin. [online]
Special award – 1st place in the online category.
9. Katarina Radestock, Violin
1.place../ First Prize.
13-15 years
10. Justīne Sproģe, violin.
3.place.
11. Marks Eilers Bušs, violin.
3. place.
12. Nikolass Smirnovs, clarinet.
2. place.
13. Eduards Salnits, cells.
3. place.
14. Sofija Semjonova, violin.
1.place.
15. Emilija Kimpele, violin.
Special award – 2nd place in the online category.
16. Marija Beļavskaja un Samija Jarmana, piano duet.
Special award – 3rd place in the online category.
Tomass Šatilovs, trumpet
Special Award – Online Category “For Participation in the Rising Stars Competition”
Seniors.
16-17 years
17. Arsenija Gerts, violin.
3.place.
18. Anna Arsenjeva, piano.
1.place.
19. Marta Korneliusa, piano.
3.place.
18-24 years
20. Otto Puhtajevics, piano.
3.place.
21. Anastasija Morozova, violin.
Grand Prix.
Vocalists.
Juniors.
22. Maija Višņeva.
2.place.
Seniors.
18-24 years
23. Kristiāns Vilkasts.
Diploma "For participation in the Rising Stars competition".
24. Ella Elīze Viļumsone.
3.place.
25. Beāte Sprindžuka.
1.place.
26. Izabella Rubule.
Diploma "For participation in the Rising Stars competition".
27. Edijs Klievēns.
1.place.
25-30 years
28. Ivars Gāters.
2.place.
29. Mārtiņš Eliass.
2.place.
30+ years
30. Raimonds Celms.
3.place.
Awards
Addresses and phone numbers of the organizing committee:
Box 113, LV 1083, Rīga
phone numbers: +37128491488, +37129510475
e-mail: worldstars2007@gmail.com
talantu.centrs@gmail.com
Bank details:
INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF TALENTS
Reg.#40008073996
Address: Dzirciema 1-23, LV1083, Riga, Latvia
Account LV 35 MULT 1010153950010
AS Industra Bank
Reģ. Nr. 40003194988
Elizabetes iela 57, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvija
SWIFT: MULTLV2X
Specify the surname of the contestant and name of the competition "Rising Stars" in the payment order.
Photo and Video
March 2 - Gala concert of the “Rising Stars” competion
February 27 - Love serenades
MASTER CLASSES
Master classes by Alexey Moshkov and Nazar Kozhukhar
Concerts
Gala concert of the “Rising Stars” competition
March 2 7.00 p/m/
Small Guild, Amatu 5
Andrey Schüdtz violin maker from Cremona
The only meeting in Riga on March 2 at 13.00 at the Hotel Relais Le Chevalier, Kaļķu iela 20
Liesma
28. februārī 19:00
Mihails Svetlovs. Mīlestības serenādes
27. februārī 19:00
News
The XV International Competition of Young Performers "Rising Stars 2025" has ended in Riga
Over 30 future artists were admitted to participate in the in-person rounds, competing in the nominations "Classical Music" and "Academic Vocal". The Grand Prix of the anniversary competition was won by a young violinist from Latvia Anastasia Morozova.
The organizer of "Rising Stars" is the International Talent Center (Latvia) together with educator, art historian, writer, teacher and violinist Mikhail Kazinik (Sweden). According to tradition, Mikhail Kazinik headed the jury, which includes outstanding musicians from different countries. This year, the contestants' performances were assessed by the prima donna of the Latvian National Opera Julia Vasilyeva, pianist Vyacheslav Zubkov (Israel), violinist, violist, conductor, teacher, and music organizer Nazar Kozhuhar (Kazakhstan), professor of the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, violinist Alexey Moshkov (Belgium), opera singer and Grammy nominee Mikhail Svetlov (USA), winner of the Grand Prix of the first "Rising Stars" (2009), violinist Dainis Medjanik (Latvia-Germany), and Doctor of Arts, ethnomusicologist, violinist, and professor of the Latvian Academy of Music Boris Avramets. It should be noted that all of them began their long professional careers with victories in international music competitions.
The jury members gave a series of brilliant concerts and master classes in Riga and participated in charity events. Several hundred listeners came to the performance of Alexey Moshkov and Naum Kozhukhar in St. Peter's Church alone. The funds raised were donated for the purchase of a new organ for the church. A separate and important event was the arrival of the famous violin maker Andres Schutz from Cremona.
The apotheosis of the XV "Rising Stars" was the sold-out Gala Concert in the Small Guild, which gathered the best contestants, jury members and the chamber orchestra conducted by Artur Gailis on one stage.
Here are the names of the 1st prize winners in various specialties and age categories: Anna Arsenyeva (piano, 17 years old); Mila Golubeva (piano, 12 years old); Edijs Klievens (vocals, 24 years old); Katarina Radenstock (violin, 12 years old); Sofia Semenova (violin, 14 years old); Beata Sprindjuka (vocals, 24 years old). As for the Grand Prix, this year it was won by 19-year-old violinist Anastasia Morozova.
The jury members expressed special gratitude to the teachers who raised the winners of the competition: Kristina Gailite, Olga Isakova, Vladimir Lyutov, Peteris Meleckis, Nelly Sarkisyan, Robert Hansons and Tigran Harutyunyan. Their contribution to the development of young talents cannot be overestimated.
It is also impossible to overestimate the role of patrons who filled the festival with a special shine. Thanks to Elena Romanova, a great admirer of opera and the work of the famous bass Mikhail Svetlov, the magnificent "Serenades of Love" could be heard in the Small Guild. And thanks to Arayik Simonyan, an entire chamber orchestra took part in the Gala Concert of the competition for the first time, performing Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante! Every music lover will appreciate this help and support - the concerts are filmed and will be posted on the International Talent Center's YouTube page.
The XV International Competition of Young Performers "Rising Stars" turned into a real celebration of music this year. Its amazing atmosphere - creative and friendly, its special, benevolent approach to each participant, its highly raised bar of skill and taste will nourish the memories of listeners and young artists all year long.
Schedule of the Rising Stars 2025 competition for 02/28/2025 and 03/1/2025
International Talent Centre competition "Rising Stars 2025" 28.02.25
№ |
TIME |
ACE |
INSTR |
Kod |
Coun. |
NAME |
1 |
11.00 |
5(5-7) |
Piano |
J031 |
|
София Ефимова |
2 |
11.10 |
9(8-10) |
Piano |
J025 |
|
Jeļena Djeri |
3 |
11.20 |
11(11-12) |
Piano |
J024 |
|
Елисей Башкиров |
4 |
11.30 |
11(11-12) |
Piano |
J033 |
|
Мила Голубева |
5 |
11.40 |
16(16-17) |
Piano |
S001 |
|
Marta Korneliusa |
6 |
11.50 |
17(16-17) |
Piano |
S013 |
|
Anna Arsenjeva |
7 |
12.00 |
20(18-24) |
Piano |
S011 |
|
Otto Puhtajevics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BREAK 12.10-12.50 |
8 |
13.00 |
12(13-15) |
Vocal |
J026 |
|
Maija Viśņova |
9 |
13.10 |
16(16-18) |
Vocal |
S012 |
|
Kristians Vilkastsе |
10 |
13.30 |
24 (18-24) |
Vocal |
S015 |
|
Izabella Rubule |
11 |
13.20 |
20(18-24) |
Vocal |
S008 |
|
Ella Elīze Viļumsone |
12 |
13.30 |
24(18-24) |
Vocal |
S009 |
|
Edijs Klievēns |
13 |
13.40 |
25(25-30) |
Vocal |
S005 |
|
Mārtiņš Eliass |
14 |
13.50 |
25(25-30) |
Vocal |
S003 |
|
Ivars Gāters |
15 |
14.00 |
24 (18-24) |
Vocal |
S006 |
|
Beate Sprindžuka |
16 |
14.10 |
33 (30+) |
Vocal |
J020 |
|
Raimonds Celms |
Rehearsal 1
1 |
9.50 |
20(18-24) |
Piano |
S011 |
|
Otto Puhtajevics |
2 |
10.00 |
17(25-30) |
Piano |
S013 |
|
Anna Arsenjeva |
3 |
10.10 |
16(15-18) |
Piano |
S001 |
|
Marta Korneliusa |
4 |
10.20 |
11(11-12) |
Piano |
J024 |
|
Елисей Башкиров |
5 |
10.30 |
11(11-12) |
Piano |
J033 |
|
Мила Голубева |
6 |
10.40 |
9(8-10) |
Piano |
J025 |
|
JeļenaDjeri |
7 |
10.50 |
5(5-7) |
Piano |
J031 |
|
София Ефимова |
Rehearsal 2
8 |
12.10 |
33 (30+) |
Vocal |
J020 |
|
Raimonds Celms |
9 |
12.05 |
25(25-30) |
Vocal |
S003 |
|
Ivars Gāters |
10 |
12.15 |
25(25-30) |
Vocal |
S005 |
|
Mārtiņš Eliass |
11 |
12.20 |
24(18-24) |
Vocal |
S009 |
|
Edijs Klievēns |
12 |
12.25 |
24 (18-24) |
Vocal |
S006 |
|
Beate Sprindžuka |
13 |
12.35 |
20(18-24) |
Vocal |
S008 |
|
Ella Elīze Viļumsone |
14 |
12.30 |
24 (18-24) |
Vocal |
S015 |
|
Izabella Rubule |
15 |
12.40 |
16(16-18) |
Vocal |
S012 |
|
Kristians Vilkastsе |
16 |
12.45 |
12(13-15) |
Vocal |
J026 |
|
Maija Viśņova |
International Talent Centre competition "Rising Stars 2025" 1.03.25
№ |
TIME |
ACE |
INSTR |
CODE |
Coun. |
NAME |
1 |
11.00 |
7(5-7) |
Violin |
J004 |
|
Aron Georg Antonin Wallerstein |
2 |
11.10 |
10(8-10) |
Violin |
J021 |
|
Sofija Poļiščuka |
3 |
11.20 |
11(11-12) |
Violin |
J014 |
|
Sofija Ritova |
4 |
11.30 |
12(11-12) |
Violin |
J019 |
|
Ксения Руд |
5 |
11.40 |
12(11-12) |
Violin |
J009 |
|
Katarina Radestock |
6 |
11.50 |
12(11-12) |
Violin |
J027 |
|
Justīne Sproģe |
7 |
12.00 |
14(13-15) |
Violin |
J-032 |
|
Sofija Semenova |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BREAK 12.10 - 13.00 |
8 |
13.00 |
14(13-15) |
Violin |
J029 |
|
Marks Eilers Bušs |
9 |
13.10 |
14(13-14) |
Cello |
J023 |
|
Eduards Salnits |
10 |
13.20 |
16(16-18) |
Violin |
S014 |
|
Arseniy Gert |
11 |
13.30 |
19(18-24) |
Violin |
S010 |
|
Anastasija Morozova |
12 |
13.40 |
12(11-12) |
Trumpet |
J028 |
|
Tomass Šatilovs |
13 |
13.50 |
12(13-15) |
Clarinet |
J026 |
|
Nikolass Smirnovs |
14 |
14.00 |
22(18-24) |
Vocal |
S004 |
|
Daniils Lugovskis |
Rehearsal 1
1 |
9.50 |
14(13-15) |
Violin |
J032 |
|
София Семёнова |
2 |
10.00 |
12(11-12) |
Violin |
J027 |
|
Justīne Sproģe |
3 |
10.10 |
12(11-12) |
Violin |
J009 |
|
Katarina Radestock |
4 |
10.20 |
12(11-12) |
Violin |
J019 |
|
Ксения Руд |
5 |
10.30 |
12(11-12) |
Violin |
J014 |
|
Sofija Ritova |
6 |
10.40 |
10(8-10) |
Violin |
J021 |
|
Sofija Poļiščuka |
7 |
10.50 |
7(5-7) |
Violin |
J004 |
|
Aron Georg Antonin Wallerstein |
Rehearsal 2
8 |
12.15 |
31 (30+) |
Vocal |
S007 |
|
VIVA |
9 |
12.25 |
13(13-15) |
Piano |
J017 |
|
Мария Белявская и Самия Ярман |
10 |
12.30 |
12(13-15) |
Clarinet |
J026 |
|
Nikolass Smirnovs |
11 |
12.35 |
12(11-12) |
Trumpet |
J028 |
|
Tomass Šatilovs |
12 |
12.40 |
|
Violin |
S010 |
|
Anastasija Morozova |
13 |
12.45 |
16(16-18) |
Violin |
S014 |
|
Arseniy Gert |
14 |
12.50 |
14(13-15) |
Cello |
J023 |
|
Eduards Salnits |
15 |
12.55 |
14(13-15) |
Violin |
J029 |
|
Marks Eilers Bušs |
On March 1, the Jury summarizes the results after the Competition and selects the numbers for the Gala Concert. In the afternoon, a list of those who attended the Gala Concert will be ready. We will post the list in the chat and inform each participant about the choice of the piece and the rehearsal for the Gala Concert.
The award ceremony will take place on March 2 at the Small Guild at 3 p.m., where the results of the competition will be announced.
Prize certificates for participation in other competitions, academies and master classes will be awarded.
Press-release Days of Kazinik 2025
The 15th anniversary international competition of young performers - instrumentalists and vocalists "Rising Stars" is accepting applications for participation.
Registration for participation in the competition of instrumentalists and vocalists "Rising Stars - 2025" is open!
You must fill out the participant's form on the "Registration" tab.